Improvement in apparatus for puddling iron



wnLLlAM SELLERS.

improvement in Apparatus for Puddlng iron. No., 2-4,22A. Patented March 5,132.2.

'I y Sheets--Shee-t.. WILLIAM SELLERS.

Improvement in Apparatus for Puddling Iron, N10 124, 224 PatentedMarch5t1872.

- //////////4/'fL FIM WEZ/zessen y Ulvrrnn STATES VILLIAM SELLERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PUDDLING IRON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,224, dated March 5, 1&7?.

To all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SELLERS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Mechanical Paddling of1ron,the following being a specification of my said improvements.

My improvements relate to that class of pud- (lling-machines in which the process is effected by revolving the chamber or vessel which contains the metal to be operated upon in such a manner as to present a constantly-changing surface of the contained metal to the action of ame.

Heretofore, in all machines in which puddlin g has been thus effected, the iiame has been passed into, through, and out of the chamber or vessel in the direction of the axis of the vessel, tlie respective openings for the entrance and the exit of the flame being opposite each other. In my improved machine, on the contrary, the iiame passes into the puddlin g-chamber or vessel in the direction ot' its axis; but, instead of passing through and out ofthe chamber, as above-described, it sweeps over the whole of its interior surface, and returns to and passes out of the opening in the chamber at which it entered, thus operating upon the contained metal more economically and more eifectually.

Again, in order to charge or to discharge revolving paddling-chambers or vessels, as heretofore constructed and used, it has been necessary with some of them to have a portion of the Hue leading to the chimney removable, while with-others it has been necessary to lift the vessel from its place. In my improved' machine, on the contrary, the delivering and the discharging tlues for the iiame are arranged in the same vertical pla-ne, and the revolvingchamber or vessel is supported upon a travers-- ing frame, which, by preference, vibrates through an arc of a circle about a vert-ical axis, the axis ofthe revolving vessel being tangential to the arc ot' vibration of the fram e, so that the vessel may be swung round out of its normal operative position, in which its axis is perpendicular to the vertical plane of the nues until its axis is brought parallel or nearly so with the vertical plane of the ilues, in which latter position the mouth of the vessel is accessible for the perfectly-convenient charging or discharging of the metal without either removing any part of the iiue or lifting the vessel, as heretofore. Moreover, in my improved machine the frame which supports the revolving vessel also carries the mechanism for revolving it g and, by preference, the steam for operating this mechanism is carried through the vertical axis about which the frame vibrates7 as before mentioned, and this constitutes an additional feature ofmy improvement.

Again, to attain in the operation of such a vessel the highest mechanical perfection it is necessary to provide against anything which might, even in degree, detract from its etliciency 5 and as the variations of temperature inseparable from the operation might disturb the proper relation of the parts, I provide for such adjustments of the frame which carries the vessel as will compensate any such distnrbance.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the means which, by preference, I have adopted for attaining the objects of my improvements.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a puddlingfurnace embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the puddling-machine, furnaceflues, and chimney, showing in dotted lines the vessel or chamber in position for being charged or discharged. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the parts shownin Fig. 2. Fi g. 4 is a sectional view of my improved paddling-machine in combination with a furnace.

The chamber or vessel A has, by preference, a spherical form, with a large mouth or circular opening, B, and has on its exterior a series of bosses or projections. c c, opposite the opening B, so arranged as to serve for securing' a worm-wheel, D, to the chamber. To the wormwheel D the hollow trunnion C is attached, which supports the chamber at that end, (the axis of this trunnion being substantially horizontal and passing through the center of the opening B.) Motion is imparted to the vessel through the worm-wheel D by means to be presently described. The object of using a hollow trunnion and bosses on the chamber is to provide for a circulation of air, which will prevent the overheating of thej ourn al. A steel band or tire, F, is to be shrunk upon the vessel A near its open end, and concentric with the trunnion C. This vessel should be lined with some refractory material, such as is technically known in the art as a x, which will withstand the heat and the chemical and mechanical actioiisiiivolved in the process. A top hole, q, passing through the vessel and through the lining, serves for withdrawing the cinder from the vessel. This tap-hole is, of course, plugged up properly during the operation of the vessel, and at allotlier times, except when opened for the purpose of withdrawing the cinder. A suitable floor-plate, j, is provided in the proper relation to the deliveringand discharging fines, and of sufficient area for the traverse of a large hollow frame, H H H, which has three points of support upon the floor-plate--namely, at what l may call the inner end of this frame a pintle, h, resting in a step-bearin g, I, about the axis ot' which the traversing-frame moves in carrying the chamber or vessel A from one to the other of the two positions shown in Fig. 2 5 and at the outer and rear ends, respectively, of the f "ame the two truck-wheels, i f', running upon the floor-plate j. The axles L 7c of these truck-wheels are placed radially to the axis of the pintle li, and have their bearings in vertically-adjustable boxes l lf. The pintle h is also made vertically adjustable in this instance by being provided with a large screwthread, which enters a corresponding thread in the frame H H H, so that, by turning the pintle within its screw-socket, the frame maybe raised or lowered at will, and this pintle is iixed in its vertically-adjusted posit-i011 by a set-screw. The bolt-lioles provided in the floor-plate j and in the flan ge ofthe step-bearin g I for the holding-down bolts o o o ofthe step-bearin g are made oblong in directions at right angles to each other, so as to admit, also, of an adjustment ot' the fra-ine horizontally in every direction by moving the step-bearin 0*. Upon the a-xle la of the truck-wlieel z" I fasten securelyT a bevelwheel, m, into which gears the pinion a, seciirel y fastened upon the vertical shaft M, which is supported by the box l and case G, and upon the upper end of which I place the hand-wheel N. The frame H H H can be readily moved into either ofthe positions shown in Fig. 2 by rotating the hand-wheel N in the requisite direction, thereby causin g the truck-wheel t" to revolve, the frictional contact between this wheel and the floor-plate j being' suihcient to vibrate the frame H H H about the pintle h. In the front cross-piece of the frame H H H I mount the guide-wlieels f f,- `and at or near the rear of the frame I mount a easing, G, in which I provide a beariii g for the trunnion C, and also a beariii g for the shaft e of a worm, E, which engages in the worin-wlieel l) on the chamber A. This casin G incloses both the worin-wheel D and the worin-shaft e, protecting them from dust and admitting of their being kept thoroughlylubricated. The vessel A is placed upon t-lie fra-me H H H, with its trunnion resting in its bearing in the casing G, and thus supporting the rear end of the vessel, while the giiide-ii'lieels f f, upon which the band or tire F rests and turns, support the forward or open end ofthe vessel in a position always substantially horizontal; and the vessel thus supported is free to be revolved upon its points of support through the worm-wheel.

Motion is communicated to the vessel A from a steam-engine having the axis of the cylinder horizontal, and over the axis of the pintle h. The connecting-rod from this steaincylinder takes hold upon a crank-pin in the face of the balance-wheel O upon the outer end ot the worm-shaft e. Steam is carried to this engine by a vertical steam-pipe in the line of the axis ot' the pintle h, and the exhaust is carried olf through this pintle, so that the vibrations of the frame H H I-I cause no disturbance to either the steam or the exhaust-pipe.

I have not shown this steam-engine in position, as neither it nor its arrangement forms any part of my claim, and as it will be obvious to a skilled mechanic that, by various methods other than the one described, the vessel A may be rotated, the axis of vibration of the frame H H H still serving as a point at which to introduce the power.

It will also be evident to the skilled in echanic that the frame which carries the puddlingvessel, and the mechanism. for revolving the same, may be arranged in many other ways to perform the functions of moving the puddlingvessel to and from the ilues without disarraii ing the driving mechanism: thus, it may be mounted upon wheels on a track, either straight or curved, which may carry the vessel to a convenient point for charging and discharging, or the track may be upon a turning table, so th at the vessel may be moved first at right angles to the plane or the lines, and then turned around to a convenient position for charging and discharging; and I contemplate arrang ing this frame to traverse in such various directions as the exigencies ofthe case may require without disturbing the connection between the driving mechanism upon the frame and the motive power. The course by which the llame enters and is discharged from the revolving puddling-chamber A is very clearly exhibited by the arrows in Figs. l and 4. l provide a door,\V, atthe back ot' the ilues, through which the chamber, when in position, may be fettled or its charge rabbled, and a spy-hole, t, 1n this door to observe when the charge ot' metal is in condition to have the cinder withdrawn.

The mode or means by which the requisito flame used in the puddliiig process is to be produced foiins no part of this patent, and I need not therefore describe herein the furnace represented in Fig. 4, but iii all cases the openings through whch the flame or gaseous fuel and theproducts ot'eoinbustion are respectively delivered into and discharged from the vessel should be so arranged relatively to each other that they may be encircled by a iiat ring, It. The surface of this ring is made sufficiently broad to correspond with the surface of the open' end of the vessel A, so that when the vessel is brought up to the ring these broad surfaces, without being iii actual contact, will be so close together as to prevent the escape of flame between them. The back of the ring R is so secured to the casing of the flue as to prevent the escape of gas on that side. This ring .may be kept cool bythe introduction of water into pipes cast within it, or may be simply cast hollow and water introduced at the bottom and allowed to iiow off at the top. It is obvious that, instead of the plane surfaces above described, the surface ofthe ring and the face of the open end of the vessel might be made in various corresponding forms to effect the same object.

Assuming the vessel A to be in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the crude iron may be charged into it either cold or in a state of fusion. The vessel is then brought around with its open end against the ring 1t, and the flame or gaseous fuel admitted to the vessel. If the iron is charged in cold the vessel remains stationary until the charge is brought to a state of fusion. Assuming the iron to be in a state of fusion, the vessel is revolved slowly, while a continuous volume of flame is discharged into it through the delivery-flue S. This flame sweeps over the interior surf'ace of the vessel and impinges upon the metal, (the surface of which is being constantly changed by the revolution of the vessel,) the products of combustion continuously passing through the discharge-tine T. In Fig. l the arrows show the directions of the llame into and of the products of combustion out of the vessel. The successive changes of the condition of the metal during the process are readily observed through the spy-hole t in the door W, and controlled by regulating the volume and intensity ofthe flame and the speed of rotation of the vessel. Vhen the ballin g is completed the flame is checked. The frame H H H with its revolving chamber A is swung away from the ring R by means of the hand-wheel N and its drivinggear, and the ball is removed; a new charge of crude iron being supplied, the open end of the vessel is again brought aga-inst the ring, and the operation of puddlin g is repeated.

The advantages of passingthe Haine into and out of the revolving chamber at one and the same opening are numerous. VVheu the vessel has two openings, as heretofore, the escape of gas at each of them must be provided against, and this involves the necessity of adjustments not only between the ends of the puddlingchamber and the iiue, respectively, but also between the furnace and the iue relatively to each other; so that the requisite adjustments cannot be obtained by any adjustment of the puddling-vessel alone; while with my improvelnents the provision against the escape of gas and all the adjustments required are confined to the single surface ofthe open end ot' the vessel. There being but one opening, the chance for escape of gas is diminished at least onehalf; and there being but one surface, all the adjustments required may be made without any adjustment of the furnace or Hue relatively to each other. The iiame is also more perfectly reverberated and utilized, and in its peculiar sweeping action over the whole interior surface of therevolving chamber operates more efl'ectually upon the charge of metal than it could in passing directly through the vessel, as heretofore.

Charging and discharging-the puddlingchamber without having to lift it, and without having to remove a portion of the ilue for this purpose; having the step which carries the vertical avis ofthe vibrating frame adjustable horizontally in every direction, and the frame adjustable vertically upon the axis about which it vibrates, and the wheels which support the vibrating frame at other points than the axis also adjustable vertically, all of these movements and adjustments being made without disturbing the connections between the vessel, the frame, the revolving mechanism, and the power, are severally and collectively advantages which must be readily appreciated. A

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The improvement in the art of mechanical puddlin g, hereinbefore set forth, by delivering the flame into and discharging the products of combustion from one and the same end of a revolving puddling-vessel.

2. A revolving puddlingvessel having its a-Xis substantially horizontal and a single opening, through which opening the iiame is deliveredl into and the products of combustion are discharged from said vessel in the direction of its aXis, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination of a revolving puddlingvessel having its axis substantially horizontal, and dues through which, respectively, theame is delivered into and the products of combustion are discharged from one and the same end of the revolving vessel, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a revolving puddling-vessel, of a traversing supporting-frame, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination of a revolving puddlin gvessel and a traversing supporting-trame with ilues, through which, respectively, the flame is delivered into and the products of combustion are discharged from one and the same end of the revolving vessel, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination of a revolving puddlingvessel, a traversing supporting frame, and mechanism by which the frame may be adjusted vertically and horizontally in ever direction, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofa revolving puddling-vessel, a traversin g supporting-frame, and mechanism for revolving the vessel, such revolving mechanism being mounted upon the traversing supporting-frame.

S. The combination of a revolving puddlingvessel, a traversing' supporting-frame, mechanism for revolving the vessel, (such revolving mechanism being mounted upon the traversing supporting-fra1ne,) and fines through which, respectively, the name is delivered into and the through which the power for revolving the vessel is transmitted, and iues through which, respectively, the iaine is delivered into and the products of combustion are discharged out of one and the same end of the revolving vessel in the direction of its axis, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

10, In combination with a revolving puddling-vessel the bosses and hollow trnnnion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: WM. SELLERS.

WM. B. DAYTON, WM. S. LYNN. 

